Judge rules against new mom who claimed sex discrimination against S.D. Department of Education

Woman had wanted to work remotely while caring for newborn

A former state employee who alleged she was “constructively discharged” from her job after having a new child was not sexually discriminated against, a federal judge ruled last week.

Nor was Kathryn Dryden retaliated against by her supervisors when she protested that her work arrangement was being altered at the end of her maternity leave.

Dryden had been employed with the South Dakota Department of Education since 2014 as a program specialist. In that role, she worked for DOE’s Child and Adult Food Care Program, managing compliance for about 200 daycares in the state. Her job included site visits of about 15 to 25 per year while conducting compliance reviews.

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